Compare towns
Middleton vs Nelson vs Danvers vs Hanson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Danvers has the most renters (30.8% rent).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Middleton | Nelson | Danvers | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,816 |
648Lowest |
28,098Highest |
10,660 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±2 11% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
45.3±3Highest 16% above U.S. |
42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nelson and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hanson and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $167,402±$29kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$125,395±$10k 55% above U.S. |
$132,200±$10k 64% above U.S. |
| Middleton and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $742,700±$48kHighest 123% above U.S. |
$340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$644,200±$23k 94% above U.S. |
$533,900±$36k 60% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,407±$284 about the U.S. average |
$1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,821±$860 29% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,785Highest 182% above U.S. |
$5,575Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$6,654 113% above U.S. |
$6,402 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.7%±25.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #71 of 282 in MA | — | #91 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Middleton | Nelson School District | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8Lowest |
14.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.